DCI Banks is on the case

On The Grid with Spooks

Bridge to Hustle

Life on Ashes To Ashes

Claire’s no Exile

Vexed is back on the beat!

Mismatched DI Armstrong and bright fast-tracker Georgina Dixon

Medium, both super and natural

Open the door to your dreams

Who’s that girl? (350-picture Slideshow)

Saturday, 17 July 2010

The Television Set

“Heartbeat” returns on Sunday evening for its final run of nine episodes to conclude its twenty-four part eighteenth series. Have no fear, this isn’t a post about to sing the praises of this easy-going show. Its demise has prompted Alison Graham, on page 51 of this week’s Radio Times, to claim that “the era of the long-running television drama is over”. In her conclusion she goes on to suggest that “maybe even “Doctor Who” should call it a day after another couple of series - there’s nothing like going out on a high”. I don’t actually think “Doctor Who” has reached anywhere near its full potential and could continue as long as there is the imagination and creativity to invent “new worlds and new civilisations”, to borrow a popular American slogan! Is Ms Graham suggesting that television drama, from here on, will become totally transient? I enjoy series with returning characters. It’s one of the reasons I prefer television to cinema.

What exactly constitutes long-running? I’ve often thought, in the back of my mind, if a series makes it to its seventh year then that show is a commercial success. Other folk may have different ideas. There are no hard and fast rules. American seasons have greater episode counts than their British counterparts. “Medium” is about to enter its seventh year of production, and seems to alternate between sixteen and twenty-two episode runs. It has reached the benchmark set by most of the series in the “Star Trek” franchise! Were “Doctor Who” to finish at the end of Matt Smith’s three-year run then Russell T Davies’s baby would achieve approximately the same. It would be a mistake for Alison Graham to assume that “Doctor Who” has been running since 1963. It was as good as off-air from the end of 1989 to early 2005. It was given a long rest and this new interpretation is but five years old. That’s not to say it won’t be rested again, when ratings eventually fall, only to be reincarnated again another day.

I’m not even sure I would’ve resurrected “Doctor Who” in the first place. It suggests a lack of new concepts and ideas where once there was an abundance. “Doctor Who” was a happy memory and RTD’s vision tainted it for me. I was forgiving when the original series presented weak stories where, now, I’m relentlessly unforgiving. Perhaps it’s because I’m older, more critical, cynical, and probably less accepting of writing that falls short. I’m a loyal personality, though, and will stand by the programme through hell and high water! I remember Alison Graham being a fan of “The Cops”, a short-lived, relentlessly grim, police drama. That appeals to one type of viewer while “Heartbeat” appeals to those who find pleasure in stories about something other than drugs and prostitution! Live and let live!! And, now that Nikki Sanderson has taken off Dawn Bellamy’s mini-skirt for the last time maybe the actress should consider joining the cast of “Doctor Who” before it’s too late!!!

3 comments:

I think Alison Graham is wrong and is merely looking to stir up some debate. Look at all the soaps. Look at how people snap up boxed sets of entire multi-series shows. Look how may sequels are at the cinema right now! People love their characters to have extended lives and adventures. And marketing men love them to as well!

US shows aim for 7 seasons so they can run ever after on daily syndication on the smaller channels and continue raking in the money long after they've finished. That's why so many call it a day soon after their 7th season... though some, quite unbelievably, keep chugging on. I stick with Smallville out of habit - but 10 series of Junior Superman is really about eight too many.

I think Alison was simply looking to swell up her mailbag! "Doctor Who" is an easy target, Steve, when so many fans feel so strongly about the programme... one way or the other!! As for marketing, I shall be rushing out to buy my 7", non-speaking, Karen Gillan doll immediately!!!

I've seen bits of "Smallville", Rol, some of the episodes with Spike, from "Buffy", but I suspect I might've been put off by the earlier "New Adventures of Superman"! I'm hoping "Medium" will run and run to see what happens to the family as they get older.

A Brief History

I consider myself fortunate to have watched the science fiction television series Doctor Who from the very beginning. I prefer the programme’s early years from which my favourite story is the Patrick Troughton serial Fury From The Deep. I am also an admirer of Gerry Anderson’s puppet shows and successive live-action series, from Fireball XL5 to Space Precinct and beyond! My pick is an episode of UFO entitled The Psychobombs. I am currently addicted to US supernatural drama Medium while, in film, I’ve always adored the gothic horror of Hammer. On first hearing Roxy Music’s Virginia Plain, music, both popular and classical, became the major force in my life, so much so that I gained a BA in the subject from Nottingham University and an M.Mus in composition from Goldsmiths, University of London. Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 In C Minor - The Resurrection and Stravinsky’s The Rite Of Spring are favoured scores. Aladdin Sane by David Bowie is probably my favourite rock album. Singles of choice are Mott The Hoople’s All The Young Dudes, Steve Harley And Cockney Rebel’s Make Me Smile (Come Up And See Me) and No More Heroes by The Stranglers.